Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-06-20
LOVE FOR GOD.
.tWhOm Have 1 I'm Heaven Hut
Thee?D

Thee?o
Rev. DR.. Fay took for his text at the
Grand Opera House yesterday morning
the twenty-fifth verse of the Seventy
third Psalm, as follows: "Whom have
in Heaven but Theeg And there is none
upon earth that desire besides Thee,
Ny flesh and my heart faileth, but God
is the strength of my heart and my por-
ton forever" In dilating this text DIR.
Fay said: "What wonderful language is
this to burst ont of the darkness of an
tiquity, from the depth of idolatrous
ages. Dismiss all reference to David as
an inspired person and his sayings as
inspirational, and what phenomenal
being is presented! A man whose soul
is penetrated through and through with
veneration and alteration and love for
the Supreme Being. whom mortal eye
has never seen. Think of the language,
"Whom have l in Heaven but Thee?" !"
This language, SO heartfelt, is phenom'
email in human experience, and to it there
is nothing in all the recorded utter
ances Of Socrates and other wise
men which bears comparison, and
after ages have passed this Ian
guage Of David is adopted by
multitude of souls. 1t never wears
out, it is fresh forever, and it is the only
Ian nguage of antiquity that breathes in
the heart of the world. No other Ian
guaee, however strong, can adequately
express mans confidence in aud com.
munion with his Master. There was not
in David's heart the slightest dread of
God as is SO usual in the human mind.
David said. "MY soul thirsteth for God.
What difference there is between this
expressed feeling of David's and that of
those who have an unnatural dread OF
God. There are those who sympathise
with David's feelings, but there is an.
other class which look upon them and
his sayings with awe or indifference.
They think it is very proper for saints
and devotees. but that it is not for
them; that it is out of their reach, "out
of their lives," as they say. They re.
gard it as state of 'exaltation into
which devotees work themselves. They
saw. what need is there of such devotion!
"What practical need have for it? l
have all l want without it. What need
have for more? l could go on forever
without feeling any need OF God" So
much. indeed, is devotion another thing,
a part separate from these per-
sons, that they look askance at any.
thing that bears upon the subject
in the slightest degree. 1t was
different with David, and it is different
with those who have deep-rooted love
for God in their hearts. We must think
of God and His goodness. If we do
not we will not have salvation. How
different is the feeling which so many
have from that expressed in the text.
If we substitute the rational view OF
God from the superstitional our feelings
are the same as David's. Is the Psalmist
not rational? Is there not bond in my
breast which connects me with God
The thought of Him is the counterpart
of every other thought, and that bond
broken, all things must become chaos.
All thinking men know that there are
such needs as David expresses for mans
existence. Put man on desert island
alone, and without his soul communes
with God he loses his mind. For the
soul there must be something more than
food. The soul is adapted to spiritual
life. II may be very blind, and its pow.
ers but slightly developed, but some
where there must be light for it to be
hold. Man himself is as invisible as God.
You say you never saw God. l say you
never saw man, for this body is as to the
man as the written message is as to the
message ittelf. The world would not
bs home without father, guardian
or guide to commune with. IL is
necessity to our lives, and to argue with
David in his wondrous expressions is
but agreeing with natural instincts
What deep things are in our souls
These all point to that incomprehensi'
BILE being, the author of our existence.
From the depths OF our souls we cry out
to God when iu direst extremities, even
in the presence OF death. A humble and
devotional communion with God is
comfort and reliance. The word CON-
fort is sufficient to explain the feeilng
which communion with God gives the
soul, l pity the man who can say that
the possession of the softest clothing,
ease and luxury are all that we need.
When his days are ended he will feel
the necessity of resting communion
with God, as did David in his lifetime.
When we see the dark barrier OF death
approaching, what comfort and consoia-
tion it is to be able to say with David:
'.Yea, though l walk through the valley
of the shadow OF death l will feel no
evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and
thy staff they comfort me-"